Boxed!

Monday, July 23rd
Quickborn, Germany



Today was the day I've been dreading since I landed in Dublin: the box rebuilding day. And it was not nearly as bad as I feared. Heike, the dear that she is, had already retrieved 2 enormous bike boxes for me. They are probably from ebikes. And they are really heavy cardboard. Oh. Ohh. Gonna add weight to the already heavy bike and a weight limit of 70 lbs and no way to test it before going to the airport. But it's built!!! Heike was seriously impressed! Ye of little faith, as we say:)

The other problem has been finding a box for the rest of my stuff. And don't ya know, when Heike went to the dumpster to throw away the scraps of cardboard she came back with 2 box possibilities. I think one will work fine as long as I pitch any unnecessary items and pack carefully leaving no air pockets.

So the plan is to go into Hamburg alone tomorrow by train and take another Free Tour. I'll have done 3 if the 12 available. I really enjoy the history and humor:)

And we've had some delightful evening bike rides. So it's been a peasant, relaxing visit. Heike and I never fail to laugh and have fun:)))


Lights out. Busy last day in Europe and 24 hour trip home. I should pedal home from Newark - probably get there faster!

BagLady


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Last Night on the Road

Saturday July 21st
Gluckstadt, Germany



1:11 pm. Made it! Had a goal of getting to the ferry to Gluckstadt by noon on Saturday. Set that goal in Bremen. And I was there at 11:30 am! I didn't know when it ran or how often but I needn't have worried. Every 20 minutes! It's a freeway!





So now I'm 20 kms from Elmshorn and can go at my preferred pace.

Sitting in a cafe sipping a luscious strawberry milkshake.


Ahhhh! And no wifi in town. I'm gonna check with the hotel before leaving. I see a great business venture: bring wifi to Germany! You'll make a bundle!!!

Sunny day too. Woke up to it! Sure does raise the spirits. (Wifi would raise them a bit more:))

6:30 and I'm parked for the night on the edge of a field on a back country lane. I had to wander around a bit to find my spot but I think I'll be unbothered here tonight. And I have about 5-10 kms to go tomorrow to meet up with Heike which isn't til 1 pm. After pushing every day I'll have time to sit and read a book tomorrow. Hope the sun cooperates.

My last night in my tent, on the road anyways, is always bitter sweet. I am ready to come home. I've tried on the idea of taking a train to Italy but I just don't want the hassle of another culture, language, rules, and loneliness. I know no one there. It would be "the same, but different". I'll save that for when I find a biking partner. And maybe plan it with hostels and campgrounds. It's not sounding as much fun already:)

No regrets. Everything happened as it should have. Perfectly imperfect:)



Home on Wednesday and on to other adventures. Looks like I'll be joining dear friends from the AT (Appalachian Trail) for their final stretch. Willing and Abal will be doing the 100 Mile Wilderness in Maine the beginning of Sept and have invited me to join them. Sounds like a plan! It's taken them 5 years to section hike the trail and I've joined for a bit every year except last year. I hope this biking has conditioned me for climbing Katahdin:). I remember it was a doozy and that was after 2100 miles of hiking!

Gute nacht,

BagLady


Love this family in blue cycling together...note 4th on sidewalk.

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Getting Close

Friday, July 20th

11:00 am I slept 11 hours last night. Woes me, guess I was tired! And awoke to no rain. Packing up dry! Felt a bit odd. Stumbled around on the route this morning off course twice already. I'm getting much braver. Not afraid that they won't speak English. Even if they don't, I think they can help me. This morning I stopped a car to get help. That's a first in Germany.



And now I'm in a little restaurant getting my coffee for the morning. Had a fruchplunder (fruit Danish) from the grocery store for breakfast 10 minutes ago when I was getting today's salad for dinner and some bread. Needed to charge both phones so when I found this spot, I'm getting coffee, charging and lunch all at once!! Donertasche. That's what I'm having. Gyro meat in a wrap. I'll be giving up meat again when I get back home, but here it's such a big part of the diet and would really limit my options.



I passed through the prettiest area this morning. Findorf. Beautiful homes and gardens. Otherwise it's most farm land. Also beautiful, but in a different way.


7:30 pm I'm camped out in the open this evening on a quiet lane on the edge of field in the woods...sorta. Can't be in the dark deep woods again. I can't see why anyone would mind and I need to get my mojo back. Some men out for an evening bike ride had stopped on the road and were commenting about the bike, so I stuck my head out, but my English scared them away. They were smiling and friendly though. If someone comes, I'm not moving. They can darn well haul me off to jail. It's a dry evening though after another day of rain on and off. And I'm enjoying having my tent open and the evening light pouring in. The field has oats swaying in the breeze...stiff breeze at that...but the woods block me from the worst of it. And the sky has...no, had...the most beautiful white fluffy clouds against a blue background. It's cloudy now...the grey, rainy kind. Don't know how long the dryness will last.

2nd the last night on the road. Very ready to come home!

Gonna keep this short and sweet...oh, oh, heard a car...is this the time...no, guess not...no one's is there.

Oh I do want to share about trying to find postcards and cash in the last sizeable town. No one wanted to speak English with me. One gracious woman, when I went to the bank and it was already closed, worked with me though to finally tell me where an ATM was. I don't know what they call it here, but it's the machine that I put a card in and I get euros out! But postcards were hard. DId finally get a couple but I had to ask and ask and ask. And when they do use some English with me, I thank them for it! And I love the folks that at least try and help me and don't just look at me like I'm some creature from Mars...I get that sometimes. Lunch ordering today was stumbling but I managed to ask enough questions pointing and he answered and pointed...and we figured it out together. He had some English though, so that helped too.

Ok, going to bed early and hoping for a long uninterrupted night. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

BagLady


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Heads up - watch the post dates

They posted out of order. So be careful how you read them.


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Destination: Bremen

Wednesday July 18
Bremen, Germany

I woke up knowing I couldn't lay in bed...but I wanted to:). So comfortable! Ahhh! But I have to get to Bremen in the afternoon. 5:00 at the latest. I want to have time to talk with and enjoy the evening with Cornelia, Stefan, and Florian.

In the morning, Frank felt better and it was a pleasure to get to know him over breakfast. Love your jokes,Frank! Sylvia had maps for me and we talked about route possibilities:
- follow Geesweg signs. Longer but scenic
- follow main roads, quicker but noisy and still the problem of negotiating through busy areas
- follow cycle routes (red dotted lines) on one of the maps and shorten the route but still have it scenic. That's what I decided to do after I got started.



That is thick, slippery mud that I can barely pedal through and don't even want to get off of Blaze. And it's on a road I'm having to take to get back on track...

And of course, I missed a turn. Got lost. Got found. Stumbled my way and lucked out coming into the city on a bike path very close to their house. Yippeeeee... It worked!

It's not easy hosting us when you live in a 3 & 4th floor apt. Blaze got tucked into the basement and she fit rather nicely I might say. And all my gear got hauled upstairs out of the way of the other tenants. It worked just fine!

We spent the early evening touring historic Bremen. Incredible architecture 600 years old! And quite ornate, I might add.






And when you're not tour guides and are asked lots of questions, it's not easy. But we managed to find most of the answers:) I still want to know the history of the house built so close to the church. There's something interesting about that arrangement, don't ya think? Let me know when you find out, Cornelia.

Fascinating city with the most adorable "nooks and crannies". Loved walking around it!

Back home Stefan (who went home a bit earlier with Florian) had a scrumptious couscous salad waiting for us with that crusty brown German bread. And we had lots...and I mean lots...of strawberries. I stopped and got some as a house gift, but Cornelia had also picked some up at the market. I'm sure they'll all get eaten.

I had the most delightful time before dinner playing with Florian. Now remember, he doesn't speak English and I don't speak German...but we can speak IPHONE GAMES! It's a great way for me to connect with kids. Cornelia said she was watching us and I was speaking English, Florian German and we seemed to understand each other:)

He didn't want me to leave. It was so cute. But he doesn't like his picture taken so I had to respect that and don't have one to insert as I would like. Thanks, Florian, for the grandmotherly moments and the high five this morning!

I was dragging, so it was off to bed for me at about 10:30 while my clothes were still in the washer. I couldn't wait up for them. And the foam fold-a-bed was sooo, sooo comfortable. If I ever have a real bed again, that's all it's going to be made of. Oh did I sleep!

BagLady


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Sleeping in the Open...Getting Brave Again!

Friday, July 20th

11:00 am I slept 11 hours last night. Woes me, guess I was tired! And awoke to no rain. Packing up dry! Felt a bit odd. Stumbled around on the route this morning off course twice already. I'm getting much braver. Not afraid that they won't speak English. Even if they don't, I think they can help me. This morning I stopped a car to get help. That's a first in Germany.



And now I'm in a little restaurant getting my coffee for the morning. Had a fruchplunder (fruit Danish) from the grocery store for breakfast 10 minutes ago when I was getting today's salad for dinner and some bread. Needed to charge both phones so when I found this spot, I'm getting coffee, charging and lunch all at once!! Donertasche. That's what I'm having. Gyro meat in a wrap. I'll be giving up meat again when I get back home, but here it's such a big part of the diet and would really limit my options.



I passed through the prettiest area this morning. Findorf. Beautiful homes and gardens. Otherwise it's most farm land. Also beautiful, but in a different way.

7:30 pm I'm camped out in the open this evening on a quiet lane on the edge of field in the woods...sorta. Can't be in the dark deep woods again. I can't see why anyone would mind and I need to get my mojo back. Some men out for an evening bike ride had stopped on the road and were commenting about the bike, so I stuck my head out, but my English scared them away. They were smiling and friendly though. If someone comes, I'm not moving. They can darn well haul me off to jail. It's a dry evening though after another day of rain on and off. And I'm enjoying having my tent open and the evening light pouring in. The field has oats swaying in the breeze...stiff breeze at that...but the woods block me from the worst of it. And the sky has...no, had...the most beautiful white fluffy clouds against a blue background. It's cloudy now...the grey, rainy kind. Don't know how long the dryness will last.

2nd the last night on the road. Very ready to come home!

Gonna keep this short and sweet...oh, oh, heard a car...is this the time...no, guess not...no one's is there.

Oh I do want to share about trying to find postcards and cash in the last sizeable town. No one wanted to speak English with me. One gracious woman, when I went to the bank and it was already closed, worked with me though to finally tell me where an ATM was. I don't know what they call it here, but it's the machine that I put a card in and I get euros out! But postcards were hard. DId finally get a couple but I had to ask and ask and ask. And when they do use some English with me, I thank them for it! And I love the folks that at least try and help me and don't just look at me like I'm some creature from Mars...I get that sometimes. Lunch ordering today was stumbling but I managed to ask enough questions pointing and he answered and pointed...and we figured it out together. He had some English though, so that helped too.

Passed by a place today that was marked on the map as KZ.



I couldn't read the signs about it, but I think it had something to do with the holocaust. There were a lot of barrack type buildings all boarded up. I took a picture of the signs for Heike to interpret for me.

Ok, going to bed early and hoping for a long uninterrupted night. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

BagLady


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I'm Not Going to Let Anything Take the Smile Off My Face

Thursday, July 19th
near Vollersoda, Germany
weather: you guessed it!

Oh, I didn't want to wake up this morning, but I knew Florian was leaving for school at 7:50 and I wanted to see him again before he left. He gave me a high 5 when I walked into the kitchen! Thanks:))

I didn't want to upset their morning routine, but luckily Stefan wasn't working until the evening and could help me out a bit this morning. I had to get my clothes dry at the laundromat, get wifi at the coffee shop, and find cycle maps for the area north of Bremen.

And the weather wasn't cooperating. But I managed to get my things done, get Blaze loaded up, and Stefan led me to the Bahnoff (train station) to a store with lots of cycle maps. It's a good thing he was with me because the guy spoke no English. We managed to find a good map and a route up to the ferry where I need to go the next couple of days. Stefan got info on where to find the route and what the route symbol looked like and off we went, him joining me for a few kilometers.

We said our goodbyes at the end of the park and not 200 meters later I couldn't find the sign. There was a bridge straight ahead with a symbol that said it was only a people bridge so a followed the pathway to the right where it dead-ended! Back to the bridge where I saw another cyclist cross it, so I did...and there were my signs. Ok. Good. Turn left. Go for a short ways and come out on a major street. No signs. Well, I think right is correct, so I go that way. On and on and no signs. After awhile when I'm thoroughly wet...and so is my map...I decide to go back and check signs again. When I'm getting back, I see across the street way down to the left (probably couldn't have seen them from where I came off the path originally)...signs! So I keep going. Following the sign symbol we had decided in the map store was the right one. The signs are also saying what towns this path is leading to, but I don't know the towns, so the names mean nothing to me. And it's raining so I'm not pondering over the map. On and on I go. Eventually, something just isn't seeming right. And when I can explore the map a bit, I find out that the symbol I was following went to the northwest as well as the northeast, the way I needed to go. I was off course. And the rain was the hardest, wettest rain I've been in this whole trip. And the wind was blowing so hard I couldn't use the umbrella which made me wetter....wet through everything (except my coat:)) Pants were just dripping! And the rain hit my face so hard it felt like hail. I was not a happy camper. Wet, lost, but in good spirits...and I don't know why. I will find the way. Just find a town in the direction you need to go and follow the auto signs...screw the cycle paths. And I did that for about 15 km.

I finally got to Worpswede, an artist community. Don't have a clue what road I came in on and my sense of direction was all turned around. After asking a few different people, some speaking little English but trying to help me anyways, I got a woman with good English who knew where I could find cycle route signs...near the bahnoff. Ok. Works for me.

So I'm back on the route, camped in the woods for the night. It's freezing out! Like a November day! And I have lots of time to make the distance I need to go, so I should be good.

I just don't have any candy or sweets tonight:( Forgot to get some and it's making me cranky!!

Time to say goodnight,

Thank you Cornelia, Stefan, and Florian for a wonderful time in Bremen and for sharing yourselves and your home with me:) It meant a lot to me and rejuvenated me for the last leg of this incredible journey! Have fun on your camping trip:))



(Insert adorable, blonde, 7 yr old boy...)

BagLady


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A Surprise Invitation

Tuesday July 17
Wildeshausen Germany
I'm not even going to mention the weather...ok...it doesn't change

(I'm writing this on Thursday. I can't believe the long post of this wonderful day I did not post into my blog. I thought I had and I deleted it from my journal. Now I'll have to be brief:(

In the beginning of the day, I was in Cloppingburg (I'm doing this from memory...that's close) and needed better maps or more information on the cycle routes. I ended up at the tourist information office where a woman next to me spoke better English that the woman behind the counter. Back outside, she and her husband, who were German tourists with a motorhome and bikes, said they'd be my "Follow Me" car and lead me to the cycle path...and they weren't even locals. What a sweet couple. They said they'd toured the US many times and often when needind help to find a route, people would hop in their cars and say "Follow me!" Thanks to the nameless trail angels!!




Best part of the day was Sylvia saving me when I was had lost the route, retraced 3 miles, and was standing at a signpost...
forlorn and not sure which way to go. After chatting and discussing how to find it she asks if I'd like to go home with her and spend the night. And join her and her friends on an evening bike ride to visit a special garden. YES. This means I'll have to bike longer tomorrow but I don't want to miss this opportunity.

No regrets, that's for sure. But I should have asked Sylvia where she lived:) We biked a couple of miles south of Wildeshausen to her house. What a house! You know how I've been mentioning the brick barns here? Or have I just been thinking of mentioning them...I never know~... Well, she and her husband, Frank bought the house and barn 40 years ago and spent 12 years renevating it. And what an incredible job they've done! It was this beautiful wood throughout. And lovely gardens surrounding it. What luck for me to be able to see this incredible place up close and personal:)

So after a quick shower and some supper that Sylvia fixed just for me...how'd she know bikers are hungry people?...we hopped on our bikes and headed back into the town again to meet up with her friends. An evening with 12 women all about my age!


And they welcomed me in with open arms:) After everyone was gathered and all the hellos and introductions done (don't ask me to repeat the names, please), we hopped back on our bikes to head out of town about 5 miles to the garden.


The garden is quite large, surrounding the house on three sides with areas of shrubs, flowering plants, rock formations, the sections of a gnarly 300 year old tree, and several ponds (one for the fish and one for the people). I wish I understood more, but Sylvia and friends often filled me in on what he was saying. Of course I missed a lot...and gardening is a topic I love...but it was fun pretending I understood him:) And the garden alone was worth the time! Then about 9 pm, we hopped back on the bikes, and wandered back towards town with ladies peeling off from the group as we neared where they lived. It was out of a movie for me. Never would I have 12 friends that would gather on bikes to wander the area for the evening. Maybe it's something I should think about trying to start. Just a thought. Gentle bikers. All dressed in nice clothes, biking like ladies. Ever so pleasant.

Back at Sylvia's at 10 pm and a stroll through her garden which was as lovely as the one we visited! But this one had veggies too...even plants she didn't plant..."how'd that get there?" We have similar eclectic tastes when it comes to yard art...but I don't have a bath tub in mine...not yet, anyways:)

Ok, I think that about captures that day. One of the highlights of my trip!!! So glad you invited me, Sylvia...and so glad I had there good sense to say YES! Schedule be damned! Opportunities like that don't come every day.
Thank you Sylvia and Frank!



And your house is a work of art!



BagLady




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Unhappy Tummy

Monday July 16th
Cloppenburg, Germany
Usual mix of weather.

12:34 am
As I lay here in my tent waiting for the pepto bismal to settle my stomach I thought I'd capture the moment. It's very dark in these woods. It hasn't really been dark, this dark, much on this trip. If you'll remember, I lost my headlamp way back in Ireland at the hostel, but I haven't missed it. It's just never that dark and besides I'm asleep when it is. Except tonight. Two other nights I've had sharp stomach pains during the night. Not fun. Tonight it's different. Heartburn. Too much Nutella, I'm sure. The sell it in a tube here so I can eat it and bike. It's my caloric source:). Better than wine gums. So I do both. Guess I over did today.

So I wake up in this very dark tent feeling oh so ichy. My pepto bismal tablets are in my "repair kit" on the bike. It has bandaids, ibuprofen, glue to fix my thermarest, sewing needle, and safety pins. But Blaze is a bit of a ways away from the tent because of all the little trees and stuff in the way. How am I going to see to get there? Oh don't bother. I put my head back down. My stomach rolls some more. Light. I need a light. My phone! Sure enough. Works just fine. Find "repair kit" and headlight I had taken off Blaze the other night (when I had to move:-/). It really doesn't work well as a headlamp because it's so piercing! But it helps. So I've munched my tablets and now chatted with y'all. I'm feeling better. For awhile I had thoughts of "where in hell am I?". In the woods, in the dark, sick to my stomach, in a country I don't speak the language. How would I even get help in the middle of the night if I needed it? I wouldn't. I couldn't.

But I'm okay. Fixed myself. Inside and out. Now for 6 wonderful more hours of blissful sleep:)

10:30 am. I could not get up this morning even though it wasn't raining. Maybe because it wasn't raining:-/. But I slept and slept and listened to my book. And wanted long enough so that I could pack up in the rain! How smart was that? So instead of packing a dry tent 10 minutes ago, I'll get to pack a wet one. Again. Oh well.

I'm feeling better this morning although lethargic. Think I lost another item: iphone charge cord (got a backup, though:)). That's added to the short list this year of gloves, headlamp, red fleece hat, and outlet adapter. Not bad for forgetful me. Guess I'm doing better!

Ok, rain is stopping...time to move!



Look closely at that statue and tell me they didn't....



Same town...this is at a roundabout!

6:30 pm. Camped on the edge of a cornfield tucked a ways back off a cycle path. Thank goodness the corn is over 6 ft high and I'm hidden by it, I think.

The grocery store I found was...Aldi! They had them in Ireland too. Ok. I got some veggies. Haven't seen farmers markets since Ireland either. Or health food stores. So I asked the cashier who didn't speak much English where a cafe was. I wanted my morning coffee and some lunch. She gave me directions. I went there. No one spoke English. Got my coffee and sat down to look at the menus on the table. All were for ice cream in some form or another. Including spaghetti ice cream! I did find a crepe with fresh fruit and yogurt. That was the closest to something nutritious that I could find. Just not finding the bakeries and cafes in these towns. And no English. A word here and there. Lots of gesturing:). And I wish I remembered more from 40 years ago! A word here and there. Each day a few more are coming back.

Even though I love the paths, I took to the roads (which have paths along side) to make some time. The paths were double the distance.

I'm sitting in my tent, in the rain (surprise, surprise!) listening to music blasting on my iPod and dancing while sitting. I know my daughters will appreciate that vision:). I did it a lot while driving:). "Oh! Oh! Mom's dancing again!!". And usually I'd try to sing too. That really tortured them!

I'm having a teary evening. I think it's just all this pent up emotion needing a release and music always does it for me. Right now I'm listening to Patti Griffin (one of my favs!) "When It Don't Come Easy"

Well there's a flashing on the highway
I wonder if we're gonna ever get home
I wonder if we're gonna ever get home
tonight
Everywhere the water's getting rough
Your best intentions may not be enough
I wonder if we're gonna ever get home tonight

But if you break down
I'll drive out and find you
If you forget my love
I try to remind you
Stay by me but it don't come easy.

I don't know nothing except change will come
Year after year
What we do is undone
Time gets moving from a crawl to a run
I wonder if we're gonna ever get home
You're out there walking down a highway
And all of the signs got blown away
Sometimes you wonder if you're walking in the wrong direction

But if you break down
I'll drive out and find you
If you forget my love
I try to remind you
And stay by me but it don't come easy
But it don't come easy

So many things that I had before
It don't matter to me now
Tonight I cry for the love that I've lost
And the love that I've never found
**********************(unintelligable)
*****************
Someone who'll say what's been said before
Someone to love what you're looking for

If you break down
I'll drive out and find you
If you forget my love
I try to remind you
I'll stay by you when it don't come easy

That was a fun exercise!

Goodnight, BagLady



Many gardens have these altars with Christ on the cross. I've seen them a lot!

And here's one for ya, cigarette machines right on the street. Saw 2 of them only 50 ft apart in a neighborhood. That way, if you run out at night, you don't have to go far!



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What Do You Mean All the Business are Closed? Is This a National Holiday?

SUNday! July 15th
Sogel Germany.
Sun in morning. A first! Dry and cool all day. I'll take it!



5:00 pm
Someone forgot to tell me that Germany, on Sunday, is CLOSED! I mean all businesses!! All of them! And I didn't know that. Luckily I do have food for dinner if I have enough fuel to cook pasta. When the fuel's gone that will be it for the trip. I just have to be sure to get a cup of caffeine every morning now that I'm back on it (not to stay)...so I don't get a headache. And no more luxury of washing dishes in soapy warm water. But I only have one week of biking left. Then a few days with Heike getting my box together. Then HOME:))))!!!!! And I'm ready! The trip now has the feeling of slogging through muddy water. The joy is gone.

Back to CLOSED issue. Luckily I found public, super clean johns in the first town I came to and watered up because I don't think I would have found water the rest of the day. And maps was my other need. Couldn't get cycle route maps in Holland. I was hoping to get some from the info office today and they were CLOSED! So I limped along trying to figure out paths to Meppen, sometimes just taking the main road. A big no-no! Sometimes I'm surprised when I notice something that's just what I need: like happening to look to the left and there's a cycle path sign that I need. Or taking a break and looking up and there's a cycle path sign board with routes to all kinds of places! Being observant is not my strong point, so seeing these things just when I need them (like someone is helping me...) is almost weird. Yup, trail magic!

But they do have weddings and parades on Sunday and I saw both.



So I got back on the delightful, slower, longer, more windy, cycle paths heading roughly in the direction I need and had a very nice ride today. 45 miles or about 85 kms. I'm only 115 km from Bremen. But that's by way of the car on my map app. I figure it's another 25 kms longer by cycle path. So I think my estimate of Wed afternoon to Cornelia and Stefan's is right.

I have found the people warmer and friendlier here in Germany. They seem to try and answer my questions even though English is more difficult for them Less bikes too. Rougher bike paths, though. Sometimes just a dirt farm road.
The houses still have those extremely tall deeply slanted toughs like the Dutch. And everything, including the barns, is made of brick.

6:30 pm. Dinner done. Enough fuel. All snug in my tent with the fly open! Been quite awhile since I've done that...last night there were mosquitos....before that rain, rain, rain. And I'm 75 feet from a road, but in the woods. And they can't see me...na na na na na naaaa.!!!! Dense edge with clearing within. A bit difficult scooting Blaze in through the brush, but I persisted! I don't like hiding like this and feeling afraid of being seen. I like being ignored. WIth every car, my senses are heightened...listen...are they moving on? Hyper alert! I need to get my mojo back.



It does feel good to be done early and have time to veg: write, read, listen, go over my maps, eat, eat, eat...

So on to the next activity...whatever that is,

BagLady
p.s. excuse the photo quality. Sometimes I totally forget to take any pics with my phone and have to take a pic of a pic off my camera to have something to include in my post.


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Well Hidden!

Saturday July 14
Emlichheim, Germany
Rain...rain...rain...not raining now

I've noticed in Holland more people outdoors than I saw in the UK. And the rain doesn't slow them down a bit! Hiking and biking...all ages! It's fabulous!! And I'm not the only one cycling with an umbrella:)



This is a pic of the signposts I'm following.

This morning's ride was the kind that just fills my heart with joy. The kind that is why I love bike touring. Grey, misty morning, high 50's, tranquil farm land, smooth path, no cars...what's not to love? Only got lost in the one town I had to go through today...because the path ran into a dirt pile and construction site. But after doing all my chores and great conversation with a couple from Colorado (Jim and Janet) and their friend from Germany (memory lapse here, sorry), I cycled out in a deluge. But while stopping to ponder which way to go, read maps, read road signs, all under my umbrella, a gentleman signaled for me to come under the overhang where he was waiting out the rain. So I did. Interesting, good-looking man...a therapist I think...and he invited me to stay at his place. It was hard to turn him down, but I have a tight schedule and have kms to bike before I sleep. He agreed with Janet (above) that I am crazy for liking to sleep in a tent...certifiable! But then I knew that.

Tonight I am HIDDEN! No one is going to find a wake me! ANd I can see that there is a delightful evening out there and a gorgeous sunset and I'm tucked away deep in some woods fearing that someone will happen by. But I'm sure they won't...Pretty rough woods. Hard to get Blaze in here. TAKING NO CHANCES! I want a good and long night's sleep.

I mentioned a schedule. Yup, I have one. This is just the way I DON'T like to bike. But I want to go all the way to Hamburg so I have to set myself with km limits for each day...actually, I pick a town that I have to get near. My map app will route and calculate km...of course it's not the route I'll bike, it's the route one would drive and sometimes it goes way out of it's way to get to a highway. But I've managed to try and use it to estimate distances from here to Bremen and then to Hamburg. Then take the distance remaining every night and divide by the number of days to bike and voila! I also estimate if I should take a day or two off what would I have to do. Yesterday I went 80 kms according to my bike but only 50 by the map app...that's how much riding around because I was lost and backtracking I do, not to mention that the cycle path route twists and turns through the most delightful areas. Today was 47 kms according to map app and I don't know what the bike computer says...and I'm not getting up to go read it. Once I'm settled in for the evening, my legs freeze up and are hard to move...just like hiking. (Oh, the sun is managing to break through the trees and light up my tent...ahhhh! This is so nice. Would be a good evening to be biking:))

So I have about 175 km to Bremen where I want to be by Wed afternoon, and then leave Thursday morning to go the 140 to Hamburg. And I'm going to be back to using my map app to find the route I'm afraid. Unless now that I'm in Germany, I can find information about cycle paths. I can only hope. As frustrating as they've been to follow, they have been a delight to ride:)

Ok...beddy bye time...the bewitching hour for rousting wild campers has arrived and I'm still doing well...Yippee!!!!

BagLady



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Quick Update

I am doing well and in Bremen.  I am unable to find wifi so can't update anything.  Right now I'm on a German computer and having a hard time.  Will update when I can. 

My Luck Has Got to Change!!

Friday, July 13th...and Friday the 13th it was!
Vilsteren, Holland
Rain on and off and ON and off...all day...and it's starting again, but I'm in my tent all cozy for the night, so it can rain away!!!






I have moments during the day when I'm pedaling along on one of these glorious cycle paths through the fields of Holland and I think...I can do this...I love this...I should stay. And then I get to town and spend an hour or longer trying to figure out where the path goes, where I missed a sign...did I miss a sign or was the sign missing?...retracing my steps, looking everywhere even behind me for signs (kinda like the AT:))...frustrated, exhausted, angry....checking all three of my hard maps and my app and my photo of the lastest posted path map on a sign post (clever, huh?)...and then just trying to pedal around to see if I run into the route...arrgghhh! Ask someone, you say? Why would they know where the route goes? They never cycle them! I tried that in the beginning and got these strange looks. I will say today in Zwolle when I was lost for over an hour even trying to follow auto signs to the next town, a women overheard me trying to talk to a gent who didn't speak English and she said there were route numbers down that way! When I get to the numbers, I don't know which way they are going...east or west? So I jump on the route after checking my compass to see if I'm even headed in almost the right direction and a couple of km later I'm moving smoothly again. There are the long path numbers that go for hundreds of kms...and there are the numbered intersections all over the place, and there are the red signs that point to the various towns around that intersection that paths go to. Lots of options and still I'm confused. I understand most of the information and have a map of the munbered intersections to refer to that help me, but anyone who says this is easy hasn't done it alone.

So that's one torment for today. The rain issue continued from packing up all the way through the day. It was the worst when I was cycling back to hopefully recover my umbrella that I had stood against the bike once when I stopped to read maps and signs and cycled away without it. About 15 min later I went for it because the rain was starting again and it wasn't there. My heart sank! I remembered where I'd left it but wasn't sure how far back that was...then tr
ying to go backwards wasn't easy because I was also at a time of lost signs. And the sky opened up and I realized how much that umbrella helped. And it's not just any ole umbrella, it's a Go Lite...my 2nd...because I lost the first while with Heike on the Olympic Peninsula last summer. It's actually a shade umbrella too...haven't needed that function on this trip:-/

But the BIG happening today was Blaze broke. Yup...there I am going through another adorable cobblestone village when she doesn't seem to be rolling right. She's so loaded down, it's hard to really see what may be rubbing. Is it the brakes? They seem ok. Try going again. Nope, something's amiss. I'm messing with the backend when the rack flops backwards...flopping in my hands...yup! Yikes! This isn't good. Take all my gear off to get a closer look. (rain has stopped again...see what I mean?...oh, wait...it's starting again:() The rack has sheared off at both bolts which attach it to the back of Blaze above the suspension joint! This is not good. This could really screw up my schedule getting to Hamburg. I'm on a back street in a town where I know no one with a broken bike. I want to cry. Nope, that won't help you right now. Can you bungie the rack up enough to ride it? Got 2 extra bungies and I attached them on each side of the back of the seat and hook them on the back of the rack. Hmm. That seems to hold it enough that I can ride it. Now, I need to find a bicycle shop. This rack is made in England. Perhaps they'll be able to overnight a new one and I won't be delayed too long. (Oh, I can see sun shining through the fly of my tent...but since I also hear rain, I can't open it and look.)

Ok. First folks I see tell me where to find the bike shop. Great. I get there, go in (sky is opening now and it's really raining HARD! So glad to be nestled in for the night when this happens.)

I'm touring and I've got a serious problem with my bike. Can I bring it in? Sure. Thank goodness one of the guys was comfortable talking in ENglish with me. I find most Dutch speak it but are shy. I told him the rack was busted and it was a special rack for my trike. I bring Blaze in, strip her load ("that's why it broke...that's quite a heavy load!") and he puts her up on the lift.








The other guy comes over with a piece of metal with holes in it and they're going to fashion a connector from the rack to the bike. So clever. While they're fixing Blaze I go around the corner to the Chocolate SHop and buy them some truffles. Sweet guys deserve chocolate:) 15 euros later, I'm back on the road. I think that only took an hour. I sure hit the right bicycle shop and I thanked them profusely!:-

Who just drove up? Come on. I'm way back from the road. I saw cyclists camped in a village park this morning. In the village where I paid to camp. I mentioned it to the woman in the bakery and she said No problem. So I thought perhaps it was a tourist coastal thing. It's not. You can't camp here. I don't know who he was. He was in a truck. There were these hiking trails and signs I couldn't read of course. I looked for anything that might say No Camping. I tried and I lost. Getting used to setting up twice a night:). It's getting old though. So at 9:30 (is that the bewitching hour for rousting wild campers?) and in the heavy pouring rain I packed up. Well I packed in the tent but I waited for the rain to clear before packing my bike. Actually it's quite enjoyable to cycle in the evening. A couple of miles further I found a spot near a bridge and a canal that looks like others have camped here. The police will have to physically move me from here.

Enough for Friday the 13th!!! Tomorrow has got to be better.

Beaten and Battered BagLady



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Pink Sunset

Thursday July 12th
Elburg, Holland
Rain am, sun pm...yippeeeee!

Arrghh! Get me outta here! How can I bike in 2 more weeks of this rain? The rain is heavier in Holland and this morning I heard the loudest thunder I've ever heard! Good thing there are tall trees around me. Or maybe that's a bad thing.

It's 9:26 am and it's been raining ALL morning. My tent is leaking and now things are getting wet. It could be condensation pooling then dripping. Not sure. I got all packed up while it was stopped... all packed up in my tent:)....and now it's raining heavier so I'm waiting to see if it eases up a bit. I got brave and a WTF attitude and turned on my phone to see the weather map and forecast. (I hope it doesn't cost too much!) Heaviest rain in all of Europe is over ME. And by the hour: 100%, 90%, 90%, 90%..... Not a good forecast:(. I have to bike in this. And hope it breaks long enough later to dry the tent and set up. Oh and the temperature is 57*. Balmy! I think it's letting up a bit. Let's go for coffee!!!









9:48 pm. I'm enjoying one of the few sunsets I've seen this summer as I sit outside of my tent on my yoga mat with my thermarest chair typing this. That's a first. It's not raining!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lovely chilly summer evening in a campground. Yes, I said....campground!


It was there at the end of my 60 km day and only 15 euros, so I took it. That's about $20. Another $1.50 for a lukewarm 10 minute shower and $13 for 100 minutes of wifi. I was hoping to skype some people tonight, but they couldn't hear me well even though they came through loud and clear. I don't understand why it works sometimes and not others even though I have full bars. Or why it works going one direction only smoothly.

Another day of many backtracks to see if I read the last sign correctly. The signs just don't flow. Then when I got into Lelystad, I had the hardest time...I mean a devil of a time finding the Centrum (center of town where the business are). At one time I was on a ROAD. Big no-no here! I've only biked about 1/2 mile on a road since I got to Holland. It's 100% cycle paths. And a truck honked at me:( I couldn't find the cycle path and couldn't figure out where this darn Centrum was. So confusing. I see a sign for it, then nothing. Eventually I got to the map store and decided a route to Emmen, my next big city. From my calculations I should easily be able to pedal all the way to Hamburg, and that's my new plan. I know that's going to cause a bit of problem when I get there hooking up with Heike, but I'm sure we can figure out something. I don't want to risk the train saying No to Blaze and besides, I'm back in the groove. Doesn't mean I don't want to go home. Knowing I have that flight at the end of 2 weeks is helping my mood. And I think the problem is mostly now driven by so much rain. I just don't want to fight it any more. It's so depressing and just takes the fun out of the trip. Too many things to fight. I'm also frustrated that there isn't more English information on stuff. SInce so few people probably speak Dutch, especially tourists, I would think they'd help them by adding English which so many people speak. I can't go sightseeing because I can't understand the signs or the tour. I am getting a feeling for the people and that's a big part of the experience. Everyone I've stopped for directions has been wonderfully helpful even when their English was rough. And I appreciated their efforts to help me out. And now that I've started saying Hi and waving again, I'm getting smiles back. So the question really is How much of the lack of connection is me?


Pink sky at night, sailor's delight! I wish that were going to hold true, but that's not what the weather report says. 100% rain tomorrow. 1/2 inch...and that's a lot!

I also think I do this for the camping...just the same reason I hike...and when I don't really get an enjoyable camping experience, it defeats the purpose. I like living outdoors! What more can I say?

Ah, to sleep, perchance to dream!

BagLady


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Three Days in Amsterdam (or thereabouts)

Wednesday, July 11th
Almere-Buiten, Holland
trying yet again to wild camp...this time supposedly in an area that is marked on a map (if I'm in the right area) as camping allowed.

Rain, heavy this morning, but cleared this afternoon...yippee!



I know I've missed a couple of. When I visit people, it's much harder to find time to write. Monday afternoon, drenched to the skin, I arrived at Apple Pie's Mom's house. This darling Dutch home was built by her father and she in fact grew up right next door. It's on a lane that doesn't allow cars. So quiet. Yet right off the shopping district that was ever so quaint with it's wide variety of shops and bricked road and sidewalk. And to the side of Nanny's house is a beautiful garden of roses and shrubs. Blaze just...and I mean just...fit through the garden gate:)

I arrived a day early because I was much closer than I thought and poor Nanny (pronounced Nah-knee, I believe) had to scurry around to be ready for me. She is raising her 2 grandchildren whom I've mentioned earlier. I won't share the private details about that be I will say that my hat's off to her for doing this and the children are benefiting immensely. She's just an amazing woman at 75...who at 65 hiked 3 weeks on the PCT with her daughter. And doing 18 mile days soon after she started! She also did 2 weeks on the AT. Kudos! She said if her knees could still do it, she'd be out there now! I now know where Apple Pie (Arlette) gets her strength but also her pleasing personality. She didn't fall far from the tree:)

I wanted terribly to visit Amsterdam and I wanted company so I convinced Rosalie and Casper to join me. I need them to help me with the train, etc. Besides, I really wanted their company. I love being around children and these 2 were loads of fun. Both were initially shy about speaking English with me, but Rosalie warmed up quickly especially when it was just the kids and me. Casper got more comfortable last night while we were playing games on my phone. That's always a good way for me to connect with kids:)

I did some research and came upon the Free Tour like the one Fuat and I did in Dublin. I thought it might be good for the kids because it was in English and it would be affordable for all three because you tip what you can afford. I was not disappointed. Gert was our tour guide and he was funny, charming, and charismatic! His English was excellent and his jokes were FUNNY! What a delivery! Rosalie got most of them! Casper was lost. But he stayed patient and didn't complain, at least to me, for the entire 3 hour tour. The one thing he wanted most in Amsterdam was to eat at MacDonalds. But it's not Dutch. But it's MacDonalds in Holland! So we had our snack there and he got his lunch there while Rosalie and I ate at a cafe (not coffee shop...that's where you buy marijuana:))

I'm sure I won't be able to retell all that I learned but I'll share what I remember. The first part of the tour was through the Red Light District. We told Casper to cover his eyes:) So we're walking down old city streets like any old city has and I'm not noticing much of anything except the crazy condoms displayed in the condom shop!


Then we stop in front of a church and Gert said did anyone see a prostitute in a window? Well I didn't. Guess I didn't know what to look for. Later when I did, it was not obvious because they aren't lit well and many of the windows were closed up. The story about how this district got started had to do with the church. The priests had mistresses and wanted them close by. Then the sailors who came to town wanted sex and the town didn't want the harassing their wives and daughters so they allowed prostitutes to reside there. Then, of course, the Catholic sailors didn't want to go to hell for their sins, so they would go to confession. And the priests wanting to make some money off this started charging for confessions. Then the problem of the sailors leaving before they could go to confession because their ships left in the night, the priest allowed them to confess BEFORE they commited the sin:) It's all part of the attitude of leniency and tolerance the city is known for. But also an attitude of commerce...make money. In 2000, prostitution was legalized and taxed. The women require all men to wear a condom and they have an emergency button in their rooms they can push if a john gets too rough. The police will come. They get to keep all their own money and they rent their windows. Seems a whole lot healthier and safer than our system...don't ya think? The oldest prostitute is 86 and there's a 2 week waiting list to see her. I believe the oldest one with a window was 67. I still have time!!!

Then he told us about marijuana and hash. About 35 years ago, A'dam had 10,000 heroin addicts. They decided to approach that problem and turn their head to the lighter drugs...less addictive and harmful one. And they decided to approach the addicts as sick not criminals. They opened clinics where they could get clean needles or the alternative drug (can't remember it...begins with m) if they wanted to kick the habit. They now have about 300 heroin addicts here. Very successful program. And did everyone become potheads? Doesn't seem like it. Gert said about 9% of the Dutch population smoke drugs. Just not a big deal as long as it done discretely. He called marijuana a highly regulated illegal drug. The coffee shops where it's sold have to buy a license to sell a drug that's illegal:-/ The coffee shop breaks the law every time it stocks its shelves. The police just turn their heads. That's the approach. Gert said the laws around marijuana are quite confusing. It's legal to carry small amounts of it and you can legally grow 5 plants for personal use. It's illegal to buy and sell it. There were head shops all over town.



The number of bicycles in this country and this city is mind-boggling! At the train station they were even stacked in 2 layers...and everywhere. EVERWHERE! The are outside offices in large numbers, along side all the railings and streets. Then there are all the ones being ridden, A Dutchman will never run you over by accident...it will be on purpose:) Yield to the bicycle. They would no more think of driving 2 miles in the car than... And you can have sex with a prostitute in the park while smoking pot, but do not have no light on your bicycle! You will get a ticket.

I so wanted to see the Ann Frank house, but the line was around the block. Just not worth it. Was moving just to stand outside and think about her story...and the story of all those killed in the Holocaust. 6 million Jews and 6 million others. Holland tried to be a place of refuge until Hitler took it over.


The other interesting site was this hidden courtyard. All the houses (tall and skinny as they are in A'dam) completely enclose it and you enter and exit through a door that from the outside looks like any other door on the street except maybe a little wider. It originally housed women that for whatever reason could not be nuns. Today only single or divorced women can live in the houses of this particular place. I guess there are many secret gardens like this in A'dam.

So today I cycled away in the pouring rain. Casper begged me to stay. He was so, so cute about it. But I had to leave. I have to get myself to Bremen in 10 days and you know how I hate hurrying. Today was exhausting because the route signs for the particular cycle path across A'dam that I wanted to take had many turns. And as soon as my ADD brain got distracted, I missed a turn. Arrghh. I got so lost that I was trying to us my compass to head in a direction that I might cross the path. And then they just stopped posting the signs and I would have to spot the back of the signs for the route in the other direction to see where the route was coming from. Many times I was way off track and had to double back or wander around and hope I'd see a sign for MY path. Exhausting! I just want to pedal and space out like I always do! We'll see if it gets easier now that I'm in a more rural area.

I'm kinda hidden tonight off the cycle path. I just can't worry about it because that energy causes attraction. All is good and I am tired.

Lights out...if my blinder's on:)

BagLady


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Making Plans

Sunday, July 8th
Coast of Holland.



(that's a beach house!)

Woke up to pouring rain and in the dumps. Thought about staying in my tent cave all day, hidden in the woods.
But when the rain stopped late morning, I decided to venture forth. I have to say the events of the evening before upset my mojo, but it was my own fault camping so out in the open. Not again. Hide to camp: Pretend your hiding from the bad guys (attackers) but you're really hiding from the good guys (cops):) Crazy, mixed-up world, this is! And it's beginning to get to me. I'm feeling more stressed now than ever before. Tonight I'm camped along the cycle path further north off in desert brush, but hopefully hidden by the hilly terrain. That was my attempt any way. And like last night I've got my tent tied out instead of staked because of loose sand and wind. I'm having flashbacks of camping in the southern California desert one particular night. But I think the wind was worse then.

So in my funk this morning I cycled into the next town...large industrial town...and found coffee and wifi. And I used a lifeline: called Dennis:). (that's because I saw he was on Skype and he was up because he had taken his sister to the airport early). I was on the verge of tears. Lost. Unhappy. Tired. Tired if a lot if things: rain, moving, hiding, not understanding the signs (trying not to break any laws but pushing the edge of the envelope). Maybe 2 months is my new limit at least moving like this: alone in a foreign country.

Dennis did some research for me on flights home using frequent flyer miles (economy) from various cities I am near and the best option came up in Hamburg which is near where my biker friend, Heike, has an office. So I called her (after a call to Heike in Cork to get her number - it is nice having friends over here:)) and together we came up with a plan: I'm booking that flight home on the 25th from Hamburg. I'll bike to Bremen (after visiting Amsterdam) and stay with friends of the Heikes. From there I'll take the train to Hamburg on Sunday the 22nd.


Cycle road intersection and road markers!


That gives me a bit more time to enjoy (stress) my trip and a plan to go home and enjoy the end of summer. Now if my gut would just let go and realize no one's going to wake us tonight, I'd be happier.

I'm sitting in my tent in the late evening light eating last night's leftovers of pasta and green beans with pesto. Now my scrumptious chocolate bar dessert.

I think this trip may have quenched my thirst for foreign travel. At least like this: alone, on bike, free camping. We'll see how the next few weeks go. Sometimes I'm not as tough as I like to think I am. And that's okay too. I've had to be do tough my whole life: raising my daughters alone, corporate job, just being a woman in man's world ...that I don't know how to deal withy fears when I have them. I know everything will be all right. I know I'll get my mojo back. Sometimes I wonder what I'm thinking. Do I forget I'm a 62 year old woman? Maybe I am certifiably insane! And when I go home what am I going to do? That just remains to be seen.

Ya know you get the raw, uncensored "me". My ups. My downs. Some days traveling like this feels as easy as pie. Other days I want a "weekend". A day to unwind, to catch my breath, to just relax. And I haven't figured out how to do that. When I got a room a while back, I got bored pretty quickly just wandering around, watching some TV, joking around with the pub owners. This daily dose of endorphins is addictive. It felt awfully good to do some biking when I finally left the pub today after over 4 hours there!

Ok. Enough babbling. That's the plan.

Do I hear voices? I'm getting paranoid! And I don't have the veil of darkness to hide in. Sun doesn't set until maybe 10:30? Could someone let me know?

I need a bit of tent yoga, reading time, and uninterrupted sleep.

Zzzzzz. BagLady

That was at 8:30. Now it's 11:00 pm and I've moved. Some grumpy Dutchman approached my tent about an hour after I finished writing and not 5 minutes after I laid my head down yelling "You have 5 minutes to leave before I call the cops! Can't you read? No camping!". I can read, but not Dutch says I. And I've not been able to find one symbol or reference that says No Camping. "5 minutes!" It will take me 30 minutes to pack up. " You have 5 minutes!". Then he left. I never saw him because I never opened the tent. The cops were nicer. So once again I packed up. This time I headed back about 3 miles to where I knew there were some woods. Now I'm totally lost in here because there are trails everywhere. No place to really hide but I think it's late enough everyone's gone home to bed. I hope Grumpy went back to check and see if I'd gone. So I'm not paranoid and I need to get away from these cycle paths and use the roads. I'd rather deal with cars and be able to find places to camp. That was more fun. Off to sleep. I think I'm okay for another night:).
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Making Plans

Sunday, July 8th
Coast of Holland.



(that's a beach house!)

Woke up to pouring rain and in the dumps. Thought about staying in my tent cave all day, hidden in the woods.
But when the rain stopped late morning, I decided to venture forth. I have to say the events of the evening before upset my mojo, but it was my own fault camping so out in the open. Not again. Hide to camp: Pretend your hiding from the bad guys (attackers) but you're really hiding from the good guys (cops):) Crazy, mixed-up world, this is! And it's beginning to get to me. I'm feeling more stressed now than ever before. Tonight I'm camped along the cycle path further north off in desert brush, but hopefully hidden by the hilly terrain. That was my attempt any way. And like last night I've got my tent tied out instead of staked because of loose sand and wind. I'm having flashbacks of camping in the southern California desert one particular night. But I think the wind was worse then.

So in my funk this morning I cycled into the next town...large industrial town...and found coffee and wifi. And I used a lifeline: called Dennis:). (that's because I saw he was on Skype and he was up because he had taken his sister to the airport early). I was on the verge of tears. Lost. Unhappy. Tired. Tired if a lot if things: rain, moving, hiding, not understanding the signs (trying not to break any laws but pushing the edge of the envelope). Maybe 2 months is my new limit at least moving like this: alone in a foreign country.

Dennis did some research for me on flights home using frequent flyer miles (economy) from various cities I am near and the best option came up in Hamburg which is near where my biker friend, Heike, has an office. So I called her (after a call to Heike in Cork to get her number - it is nice having friends over here:)) and together we came up with a plan: I'm booking that flight home on the 25th from Hamburg. I'll bike to Bremen (after visiting Amsterdam) and stay with friends of the Heikes. From there I'll take the train to Hamburg on Sunday the 22nd.


Cycle road intersection and road markers!


That gives me a bit more time to enjoy (stress) my trip and a plan to go home and enjoy the end of summer. Now if my gut would just let go and realize no one's going to wake us tonight, I'd be happier.

I'm sitting in my tent in the late evening light eating last night's leftovers of pasta and green beans with pesto. Now my scrumptious chocolate bar dessert.

I think this trip may have quenched my thirst for foreign travel. At least like this: alone, on bike, free camping. We'll see how the next few weeks go. Sometimes I'm not as tough as I like to think I am. And that's okay too. I've had to be do tough my whole life: raising my daughters alone, corporate job, just being a woman in man's world ...that I don't know how to deal withy fears when I have them. I know everything will be all right. I know I'll get my mojo back. Sometimes I wonder what I'm thinking. Do I forget I'm a 62 year old woman? Maybe I am certifiably insane! And when I go home what am I going to do? That just remains to be seen.

Ya know you get the raw, uncensored "me". My ups. My downs. Some days traveling like this feels as easy as pie. Other days I want a "weekend". A day to unwind, to catch my breath, to just relax. And I haven't figured out how to do that. When I got a room a while back, I got bored pretty quickly just wandering around, watching some TV, joking around with the pub owners. This daily dose of endorphins is addictive. It felt awfully good to do some biking when I finally left the pub today after over 4 hours there!

Ok. Enough babbling. That's the plan.

Do I hear voices? I'm getting paranoid! And I don't have the veil of darkness to hide in. Sun doesn't set until maybe 10:30? Could someone let me know?

I need a bit of tent yoga, reading time, and uninterrupted sleep.

Zzzzzz. BagLady

That was at 8:30. Now it's 11:00 pm and I've moved. Some grumpy Dutchman approached my tent about an hour after I finished writing and not 5 minutes after I laid my head down yelling "You have 5 minutes to leave before I call the cops! Can't you read? No camping!". I can read, but not Dutch says I. And I've not been able to find one symbol or reference that says No Camping. "5 minutes!" It will take me 30 minutes to pack up. " You have 5 minutes!". Then he left. I never saw him because I never opened the tent. The cops were nicer. So once again I packed up. This time I headed back about 3 miles to where I knew there were some woods. Now I'm totally lost in here because there are trails everywhere. No place to really hide but I think it's late enough everyone's gone home to bed. I hope Grumpy went back to check and see if I'd gone. So I'm not paranoid and I need to get away from these cycle paths and use the roads. I'd rather deal with cars and be able to find places to camp. That was more fun. Off to sleep. I think I'm okay for another night:).
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